Advogato blog for gessleinhttp://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/
Advogato blog for gessleinen-usmod_virguleSun, 2 Aug 2015 20:28:56 GMTFri, 29 Jun 2012 18:22:49 GMT29 Jun 2012http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=13
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=13<h1>One last blog entry</h1><br/>
Today I released a major new version of Mathomatic, version 16.0.0. I don't know where to publicize it, Twitter is so bad that my posts don't even show up in a search for "Mathomatic". Google+ seems to just want entertainment. Freecode.com seems to be the only place a free software author can post things and be seen. Thank you for Freecode.com.<br/>
<br/>
<h2>Mathomatic version 16.0.0</h2><br/>
This latest major release features new functionality and bug fixes, too many to list. Code, documentation, and user interface improvements and corrections were made. Everything has been cleaned up and tested to perfection. It does everything I could imagine that is helpful, except for logarithm support. I will add logs when I feel better. See <a href="http://www.mathomatic.org/" >The Mathomatic Website</a>.<p>I hope you like it and learn from it; it is my best work. Please provide feedback, if nothing else. Thanks for reading my blog.<br/>
<br/>
<blockquote><br/>
Signing off,<br><br/>
George Gesslein II<br/>
</blockquote><br/>
Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:17:33 GMT29 Aug 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=12
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=12<h1>End of this blog</h1><br/>
I think I will not be blogging on Advogato anymore. No one can comment on my posts, and it doesn't seem to be reaching anyone. So, logging off...<br/>
Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:07:57 GMT27 Aug 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=11
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=11<h1>Function entry support</h1><p>Now Mathomatic can accept any function strings, like <b>f(x+y)</b>, by typing "<tt>set&nbsp;special_variable_characters&nbsp;()</tt>" at the beginning of a session. It copies the entire function string into a variable name, so no operations can be performed on it, but it can exist and be displayed in any expression where everything else works. Functions can then perhaps be taken care of by another program if needed.<br/>
<p>This is just added as a temporary measure, until I get better and add more function support to Mathomatic. Otherwise any function entry gives the error: "Named functions currently not implemented, except when using m4."<br/>
Trig and many other standard functions are handled with m4 Mathomatic (the program named <i>rmath</i>), which is usually included in any recent Mathomatic package. <br/>
Mon, 8 Aug 2011 00:49:33 GMT8 Aug 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=10
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=10<h1>Mathomatic in Debian</h1><p>Had my first Debian package update uploaded today. <a href="http://packages.qa.debian.org/m/mathomatic.html" ><br/>
Mathomatic is now maintained by me in Debian.</a><br/>
This may be a good thing, now I have the ability<br/>
to create and/or maintain any Debian package that<br/>
needs it.<br/>
Thu, 4 Aug 2011 21:05:40 GMT4 Aug 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=9
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=9Mathomatic version 15.6.3 is released today, it is a ton of work, but I had to do it before I end up in the hospital again. I am feeling like I am going to lose consciousness all the time now. Not a pleasant feeling.<br/>
<br/>
My Internet is totally controlled by an unfriendly alien force. I hope it doesn't hurt me. It has removed all social contact from me. I just keep doing good in my little cage.Wed, 3 Aug 2011 13:42:12 GMT3 Aug 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=8
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=8I ran some diagnostics on my previous Linux desktop to see what was wrong with it, and now it works! So I now have two Ubuntu desktops! I am using both, one designated secure and the other insecure.<br/>
<br/>
I recently made a lot of improvements to Mathomatic with the new, secure desktop. A new release is coming shortly unless I end up in the hospital again. My body is failing me.<br/>
Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:01:08 GMT23 Jul 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=7
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=7I received via UPS and set up my new super-powered Linux desktop computer a couple of days ago from <a href="http://www.system76.com" >System76</a>. <br/>
Now I can fully support, maintain, and improve Mathomatic.<br/>
<br/>
Here is my review:<br/>
<br/>
On July 13, 2011, I purchased a high-end Wildebeest Performance desktop from System76. It was built, tested, and shipped within a week of my purchase, because I spent $200 for one day shipping.<br/>
<br/>
The system arrived at my door just fine, but nothing extra included, just the box. I cannot tell the 2 USB-3.0 ports from the 6 USB-2.0 ports, because there is no available documentation on the hardware that I can see. The headphone and microphone ports on the front do not fit 1/8" plugs, I do not know if they are broken or use some new type of connector. There were no extra cables inside the box to add any drives. So I just used it as is.<br/>
<br/>
The computer worked without changes first time. I was able to use most of the features of this new, 8 core 3.4 GHz computer with 16 Gigabytes of RAM, it seems like a fine purchase. The latest Ubuntu version 11.04 (Natty) seems to be flaky as usual, I am going to have to switch to another distro someday. But this is a powerful software development computer, it compiles Mathomatic in 1 second! And VirtualBox runs much faster and better on it, I can view HD videos just fine by running video playback software in any OS running on a virtual machine.<br/>
<br/>
The BIOS and motherboard are Intel brand re-branded to System76. Hopefully this computer will serve me well for years to come. I have reduced the CPU speed a little by putting it in OnDemand mode, my previous computer may have burned out early because I always had it running at the maximum speed.<br/>
<br/>
A few fixable glitches with this new computer so far. That's my report. Questions are welcome.<br/>
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:18:53 GMT15 Jul 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=6
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=6My Linux desktop computer died a few days ago, won't have the new one for 2 weeks. All Mathomatic development and updates are on hold until then. You can still download the latest and greatest from <a href="http://www.mathomatic.org" >the Mathomatic website</a>.<br/>
<br/>
I am always impressed by Mathomatic's functionality, it solves and simplifies perfectly most of the time, and I don't know how a program I created is smarter than me!<br/>
Sun, 10 Jul 2011 09:45:11 GMT10 Jul 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=5
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=5Previous behavior of Mathomatic:<br/>
<br/>
1-> y=x<br/>
<br/>
#1: y = x<br/>
<br/>
1-> derivative z ; Fail!<br/>
Variable not found; the derivative would be zero.<br/>
Command usage: derivative ["nosimplify"] [variable or "all"] [order]<br/>
1-> y=2<br/>
<br/>
#2: y = 2<br/>
<br/>
2-> derivative x ; Fail!<br/>
Current expression contains no variables; the derivative would be zero.<br/>
Command usage: derivative ["nosimplify"] [variable or "all"] [order]<br/>
2-> <br/>
<br/>
Differentiation failed with a helpful error message and useless command usage info when the result is zero. That was wrong.<br/>
<br/>
-----------------------------------------------<br/>
<br/>
Current behavior of Mathomatic, available in the development version and the next release:<br/>
<br/>
1-> y=x<br/>
<br/>
#1: y = x<br/>
<br/>
1-> derivative z ; Success!<br/>
Warning: Variable not found; the derivative will be zero.<br/>
Differentiating the RHS with respect to (z) and simplifying...<br/>
<br/>
#2: y' = 0<br/>
<br/>
2-> y=2<br/>
<br/>
#3: y = 2<br/>
<br/>
3-> derivative x ; Success!<br/>
Warning: Current expression contains no variables; the derivative will be zero.<br/>
Warning: Variable not found; the derivative will be zero.<br/>
Differentiating the RHS with respect to (x) and simplifying...<br/>
<br/>
#4: y' = 0<br/>
<br/>
4-> <br/>
<br/>
Mathomatic succeeds now when the derivative is zero, giving a warning message (or two).<br/>
<br/>
Displaying command usage info whenever a command failed will not happen anymore. Command usage info is displayed by the help command and when something has been entered incorrectly on the command line.<br/>
<br/>
More progress, I think. There have been many important improvements and fixes to Mathomatic this year. I am pleased, and thankful for the support I get. :-)<br/>
Sun, 3 Jul 2011 23:54:30 GMT3 Jul 2011http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=4
http://www.advogato.org/person/gesslein/diary.html?start=4I am out of the hospital and back in my new, wonderful, peaceful home, feeling better, caught up on my chores, and ready to work on Mathomatic. Now what?<br/>